(NewsNation) — Israeli actions in Gaza are “consistent with the characteristics of genocide,” a United Nations Special Committee wrote in a report published this week that cited “mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians.”
“Since the beginning of the war, Israeli officials have publicly supported policies that strip Palestinians of the very necessities required to sustain life — food, water, and fuel,” the committee said. “These statements along with the systematic and unlawful interference of humanitarian aid make clear Israel’s intent to instrumentalize life-saving supplies for political and military gains.”
Israel’s attacks on Gaza have killed over 43,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to The Associated Press. The war started after Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage, the AP wrote.
The report covers the period from October 2023 to July 2024. Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing campaign,” the UN special committee wrote in it, resulted in the widespread killing of civilians and “mass destruction of civilian infrastructure, raising grave concerns of violations under international humanitarian law.” Attacks on civilians the report brought up include those on schools currently acting as shelters.
Targeting systems enhanced with artificial intelligence that are being used by Israel to direct military operations have exacerbated the problem, the report states. Israeli soldiers, because they were relying on AI-assisted targeting, accelerated their decision-making and authorized strikes in a matter of seconds, the report said. Home-tracking of targets and night strikes also have disproportionately increased civilian casualties, report authors added.
“The committee is profoundly concerned about the indiscriminate loss of life apparently caused by these artificial intelligence-enhanced targeting systems, especially when combined with the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects,” the report said.
In addition, Israel’s destruction of vital water, sanitation and food systems have created a “lethal mix of crises that will inflict severe harm on generations to come,” the committee said.
Earlier this week, the AP reported that the flow of food, medicine and other supplies to Palestinians is at its lowest level of the 13-month war. Aid groups say the Israeli military has hindered or even blocked aid shipments to Gaza even amid food security experts warning that a famine may already be underway.
The situation in the West Bank, which the committee said is an “apartheid system,” has also dramatically worsened since Oct. 7, per the report. Report authors said there has been escalating violence there, including a dramatic rise in child casualties, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund.
The report is scheduled to be presented to the UN General Assembly on Monday.
The United Nations’ top court in January demanded Israel try to contain death and damage as it continues its military offensive in Gaza, calling on the country to “take all measures” to prevent a genocide of the Palestinians. South Africa brought the case accusing Israel of genocide to the International Court of Justice last year. Israel has denied allegations it is committing genocide.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
